The distribution of marital satisfaction across demographic variables in Malta

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of demographic variables on marital satisfaction in Maltese couples. The study employed a quantitative design and used paper-and-pencil questionnaires for data collection. The questionnaire included the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Scale, specifically modified for the purpose of this study as well as a series of demographic questions. The questionnaires were distributed to a sample of 95 married individuals that were currently living in Malta. After collection the data was tabulated and tested using analyses of Variance and Pearson product-moment correlations. The results lead this study to conclude that there is moderate positive correlation between sexual cooperation and marital satisfaction in Maltese couples; that individuals who used egalitarian conflict management styles had significantly higher marital satisfaction scores than those who used other conflict management styles; and that dual earners who distributed housework evenly between husband and wife reported significantly higher marital satisfaction scores than dual earners who did not.